LAGOS INAUGURATES 2019 HAJJ AD-HOC COMMITTEE

The Lagos State Government has inaugurated the Ad-hoc Committee for the 2019 Hajj Pilgrimage with a charge to the members to ensure that Lagos sustains its enviable position as the best in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat urged the committee members to see to the welfare and safety of the 2,234 pilgrims and also ensure that the entire pilgrimage process is performed peacefully.

He charged the ad-hoc committee to consider the assignment as a serious job involving issues of welfare, safety and the array of logistics involved from Lagos to Mecca and back to the country.

According to him, “You are to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims, transportation to and within the Holy Land, accommodation, and feeding of the pilgrims are taken care of. Your duties as a committee commence from Nigeria till their return and end at the tendering of report and recommendation for improvement”.

In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye stated that as part of the efforts to ensure a hitch-free 2019 Haji operation, the State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board had organised series of activities which include seminar, talks, sensitisation, medical test amongst other exercises to prepare the pilgrims for the spiritual exercises.

The Permanent Secretary also announced that the National Hajj Commission issued the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrim Commission an award as the best pilgrim commission for its disciplinary practices.

The Amir Hajj, Mr. AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem promised that in spite of the reduced responsibilities with the National Hajj Commission fixing fares and providing accommodation and transportation, the plans for the year 2019 Hajj will remain top rate, noting that the State had refunded N141,000 (One hundred and forty-one thousand Naira) extra fare to all pilgrims.

The event was witnessed by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Odejayi and Secretary of the Pilgrims’ Board Mr. Rahman Ishola amongst others.